Companies House WebFiling Closing: What Changes in 2027

Companies House is ending its free WebFiling service for annual accounts on 1 April 2027. From this date, all UK companies must file their accounts using commercial software.

This is a separate change from HMRC's CT600 service closure (31 March 2026), though both are driven by the same legislation.

What Is Closing?

Companies House WebFiling for Accounts

The free service that lets you:

• Create annual accounts online through Companies House website
• Submit accounts directly without any software
• File abridged accounts (shortened versions)

This closes permanently on 1 April 2027.

What Stays Open

Companies House WebFiling remains available for:

• Confirmation statements (annual return replacement)
• Director appointments and changes
• Registered office changes
• Other statutory filings

Only the accounts filing function is moving to software-only.

Why Is This Happening?

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023 requires:

• Enhanced data validation — Software must validate accounts before submission
• Mandatory iXBRL tagging — All accounts must be in iXBRL format
• Improved accuracy — Reduce errors in company financial information
• Greater transparency — More detailed information on the public register

Companies House's current WebFiling system cannot support these requirements.

Key Dates

Date	What Happens
31 March 2026	HMRC's CT600 free service closes
1 April 2027	Companies House WebFiling for accounts closes
1 April 2027	Paper filing for accounts also ends
1 April 2027	Abridged accounts abolished

What Changes for Different Company Types

Micro-Entity Companies

Before April 2027:

• File abbreviated balance sheet only
• Use WebFiling or software
• Option to file abridged accounts

After April 2027:

• Must file balance sheet AND profit and loss account
• Software-only filing
• No more abridged option
• Must use iXBRL format

Small Companies

Before April 2027:

• Can file filleted (abbreviated) accounts
• WebFiling or software

After April 2027:

• Must file balance sheet, profit and loss, directors' report
• Auditor's report (unless audit exempt)
• Software-only filing

Dormant Companies

Before April 2027:

• Simple dormant accounts through WebFiling
• Minimal disclosure

After April 2027:

• Must use commercial software
• Same dormant accounts format
• iXBRL tagging required

Note: Dormant companies still won't need full accounts, but the filing method changes.

What Is iXBRL?

iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) is a format that:

• Embeds machine-readable tags in human-readable documents
• Allows Companies House to automatically extract financial data
• Improves data quality and reduces manual processing
• Is already required for CT600 accounts

Good software generates iXBRL automatically — you don't need to understand the technical details.

Abridged Accounts: What's Happening?

Currently

Companies can file "abridged" accounts showing:

• Limited balance sheet information
• No profit and loss account for micro-entities
• Reduced disclosure

From April 2027

Abridged accounts are abolished. All companies must file:

• Full balance sheet (appropriate to size)
• Profit and loss account
• Notes to accounts (as required)

This means more financial information becomes public for all companies.

How to Prepare

Step 1: Understand Your Deadlines

Your accounts deadline depends on your year end:

• Year end before April 2027: You can still use WebFiling
• Year end April 2027 or later: Software-only filing applies

Example: If your year end is 31 March 2027, you have until 31 December 2027 to file (9 months). By then, WebFiling will be closed, so you'll need software.

Step 2: Choose Software Early

Don't wait until your filing is due. Options include:

Free options:

• TinyTax — Free for micro-entity accounts and CT600

Paid options:

• TaxCalc, IRIS, Sage, and others

Step 3: Learn the New Requirements

Understand what your company must file:

Company Type	What You Must File
Micro-entity	Balance sheet + P&L
Small	Balance sheet + P&L + Directors' report
Medium/Large	Full statutory accounts

Step 4: Prepare for More Disclosure

If you've been filing abridged accounts, your financial information will become more public. Consider:

• What the profit and loss will reveal
• Whether you need to restructure before filing
• How competitors might view your finances

Combined Filing: HMRC and Companies House

Many software packages handle both:

• CT600 filing to HMRC
• Accounts filing to Companies House

TinyTax offers combined filing — prepare once, submit to both bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly does WebFiling close?

1 April 2027 for accounts filing. Other services (confirmation statements, director changes) remain available.

Can I still file paper accounts?

No. Paper filing for accounts ends at the same time as WebFiling closes.

What about dormant companies?

Dormant companies must also use software from April 2027. The accounts format stays simple, but the filing method changes.

Is there any exemption?

Unlike HMRC's CT600 closure, there's no exemption pathway announced for Companies House accounts. All companies must use software.

What if I miss the deadline?

Late filing penalties apply regardless of whether you intended to use WebFiling. Plan ahead to file on time.

Will filing take longer with software?

Not necessarily. Good software can be faster than WebFiling because it auto-populates data and validates as you go.

Do I need separate software for Companies House and HMRC?

No. TinyTax and other comprehensive solutions handle both in one package.

Summary

• Companies House WebFiling for accounts closes 1 April 2027
• All companies must use commercial software (free options exist)
• Abridged accounts are abolished — more disclosure required
• Micro-entities must file profit and loss account
• Paper filing also ends
• Other WebFiling services continue

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TinyTax offers free accounts filing for micro-entities. Get started →